HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen-On The Farm, 2004-03-18, Page 31New digs
The construction of a new 75'x200' housing barn for the milking and pregnant ewes was
completed in January. (Bonnie Gropp photo)
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apicattafte"
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PAGE A-10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2004.
On the farm
Brothers take a chance with tough market
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen editor
A late February sun warms the
yard, while outside the barn two tiny
lambs take advantage of spring's
promise to frolic. The air is filled
with the cacophonic conversation of
sheep.
This is Rob Cardiff's working
world.
Born and raised on a farm north of
Brussels, Cardiff was a licenced
electrician working in London
several years ago. Then in 1999 he
and his brother Stewart bought J.N.
Cardiff Farms from their father and
the country boy came home.
To milk sheep. One thousand one
hundred of them to be exact.
"We mulled over quite a few ideas.
We'd grown up around pigs and
cattle and knew we wanted nothing
to do with that."
Though Stewart lives in St. Marys
he had purchased the farm directly
east from his parents'. Rob and his
wife Allyson moved across the road
to the north-east.
While the brothers cash crop their
600 acres of land, they did want to
diversify.
After oldest brother Allen
mentioned milking sheep, Rob and
Stewart, a one-time director of
agriculture and agri-business for the
Toronto Dominion Bank, did some
investigating.
"We spent a year looking into it
then decided to go ahead," says Rob.
"There is a void in Canada, but it's a
tough market with a lot of
challenges."
The biggest of which may be
processing. "They usually want a lot
of milk."
A direct link came about in early
2003 when Stewart bought into
Shepherd Gourmet Dairy in
Tavistock as a shareholder, then
became president. "All our
processing goes through Shepherd
Gourmet. We decided that way we
have more control. With Stewart's
business knowledge it worked in
well."
Though Stewart has always helped
and is of course now handling the
processing and marketing, from the
beginning it was Rob who would
look after the day-to-day operations
of the flock. Having made the
decision to milk sheep, a lot of work
was necessary before getting up and
running. The barn, which had been
set up as a feedlot was totally altered
to accommodate ewes and nursing
lambs.
A new barn 75' by 200' was just
completed in January for housing the
lactating ewes and the mothers-to-
be. Prior to that the sheep had been
housed in neighbouring barns.
Also, once the brothers were
committed to their decision they
weren't going to let any red tape stall
them. "We called in a government
inspector to see if we were set up
right," says Rob, adding that they are
not under the types of restrictions
and legislations that dairy producers
are. "I imagine it's because it's not a
big enough industry."
Also unlike dairy there's no quota
involved. Milking sheep is no less
restrictive, however. "I have a new
appreciation for dairy farmers. It's a
lot of work, seven days a week."
The day begins for Rob at 5:30
a.m. The double 24 parlour is fully
aetomated and milks about 140 ewes
an hour on average. Throughout
lactation each sheep will give
approximately one to two litres a
day. "Purebreds can give up to five
litres but we started with commercial
sheep."
Milking is done twice a day with a
low average of 300 currently
milking now.
r
Paul Steckle, M.P.
Huron - Bruce
Huron-Bruce is or instrumental
contributor to Canadian agri-business.
While every sector of agriculture is
experiencing struggles and hardships.
we must band together to strengthen
our voice and heighten our morale. We
have the knowledge and experience to
meet the challenges of today and
assist us with the direction of
tomorrow. We can overcome every
obstacle if we remain focused on our
goals. Our success is also
complemented by the strong support
of our rural communities and
provincial partners. I will continue to
work hard on your behalf as we join
together to make Canada a world
leader in Agriculture.
For more information please contact:
Paul Steckle, M.P., Huron-Bruce
Constituency Office
30 Victoria Street North, Goderich, ON, N7A 2R6
519-524-6938
L-
Though they used to have the milk
picked up frozen it is now taken
fresh in a bulk tank.
One of the biggest challenges was
getting the sheep into the parlour.
"The first year doing this, you would
have to be very good-humoured."
Fortunately the greedy nature of
sheep made the task somewhat
easier. "Once they know we feed
corn in the parlour they'll jump all
over each other to get in."
Getting their kicks was another
annoying trait. "Lambs will try to
steal each other's milk. The mothers
are protective. They will smell the
Continued on A-11